Charity helps hugs live on

Fallen Marine inspires a blanket project for children

By Matthew Hamilton

Published 7:52 pm, Saturday, November 2, 2013

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Paul Martin irons a stamp onto a blanket during a blanket making session in Bethlehem, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Martin's son Shawn was killed in action in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Martin's wife, Dawn Martin, started the charity Uncle Shawn's Hugs after their son's death, and the charity now makes hundreds of blankets each year for children in need. less

Paul Martin irons a stamp onto a blanket during a blanket making session in Bethlehem, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Martin's son Shawn was killed in action in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Martin's ... more

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Joan Renner of Colonie ties together pieces of a fleece blanket in Bethlehem, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Renner volunteers for the charity Uncle Shawn's Hugs after her son's death, donates hundreds of blankets each year to children in need. less

Joan Renner of Colonie ties together pieces of a fleece blanket in Bethlehem, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Renner volunteers for the charity Uncle Shawn's Hugs after her son's death, donates hundreds of ... more

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Dawn Martin speaks with the Times Union March 18, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. about her son who died in Iraq 10 years ago while serving in the Marine Corp. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Dawn Martin speaks with the Times Union March 18, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. about her son who died in Iraq 10 years ago while serving in the Marine Corp. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Though the 30-year-old Marine was killed by a roadside bomb in 2007 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, his copious hugs live on though Uncle Shawn's Hugs, a non-profit started by his mother, Dawn Martin, in time for the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots Train in 2008.

The organization now continues to provides handmade blankets for the charity trip, which gives toys to children whose families wouldn't otherwise be able to afford them between Binghamton and Rouses Point, Clinton County. On Saturday, volunteers joined Martin at the Elsmere Fire Station, where her son was a volunteer, for the last of this year's blanket-making sessions to craft the blankets for children ranging from infants to 12-year-olds.

"It's a project that started out with 25 blankets and has grown to over 4,000," Martin said.

The Delmar woman started the charity after her son's death. The Marine Corps approached Martin about riding the Toys for Tots Train, for which she decided she would make blankets.

"This gave me a purpose and something to hold on to after I lost my son," Martin said.

She said she started taking the blankets to her job to work on during her lunch hour, which blossomed into Friday night dinners with coworkers to cut and tie the fleece blankets.

Among those who first helped make the blankets is Joan Renner of Colonie.

Renner said she started because she simply wanted to help her coworker, but she hasn't stopped making the blankets since.

She estimated she has made roughly 200 blankets through this year.

As volunteer participation has grown, Martin has brought back stories from the train rides. One that stands out in Renner's mind is the story of a six-year-old boy who asked Martin if he could trade his toy for a blanket.

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Shawn Martin's mother, Dawn Martin, said though volunteer blanket making sessions have ended for this year, she does accept blankets from other people.

Call 518-439-6275 to talk with Martin about making blankets and learn blanket specifications.

"For a child to give up a toy just to have a blanket, I knew I had to keep doing it," Martin said.

Though Martin brings hundreds of blankets with her to the train each year, sometimes there still aren't enough.

"We get off the train and hand out what we have allotted for that stop then get back on the train and cry because we can't help all of the kids who need it," she said.

On Saturday, volunteers filled bags with blankets and were tying and cutting the fleece in a way that made the more experienced blanket makers' hands fly. Nearly half of the volunteers were children, who either came as part of the St. Thomas the Apostle Church Youth Ministry or on their own. Among them was 14-year-old Colleen Thompson of Bethlehem, who said she was happy to help a good cause.

Martin lauded the children who volunteer their time. She said though her son didn't have children, he loved kids and was "like a big teddy bear." Martin said she knows the blanket campaign is something her son would approve of.

"It's because of him that I find a way to do this," Martin said. "It keeps me going."